The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-24

nor faint"
The men rode eff at a galop up the
river, skirting the edges of the tim
Der, and In three quarters Of al
hour reached a cabin which had
been abandoned in the spring hy a
family named Miller. The settlers
wife had died, and he had removed
TO Red Cloud. The cabin was a
small and snug affair, having heavy
door with bar to it, and two win
dows provided with almost bullet
proof inside shutters. The men rode
straight TO the cabin and dismount-
ed, Mrs. Clark being assisted off the
saddle before the man who rode the
horse with her got down. As she
struck the ground she grabbed for
the butt of a revolver which stuck
out of the holster Of the man who
helped her down, and what happened
in the next two or three minutes She
relates herself:
II was and an a fair shot with
rifle or revolver. | first seized the
weapon with the idea Of committing
suicide, but changed my mind in an
instant, pulled up the hammer aad
Shot the man in the leg before he had
taken his hands Off nc. Then ! dar,-
ed for the cabin, carrying the Smok-
ing weal on in my hand. The half
open door was only ten feet away,
and | was Inside and had tie door
bar in place in few seconds. In
decd; the man whom have wounded
had scarcely cried out before | vas
in the house. My action was so
v%T.4den and uneXpec'cl that not a
hand vas stretched ont to stop me.
Fortunately for me, the bar s'ood on
end Just behind the door and as |
slipped it into place ! felt that | had
been saved, Two or three years Of
pioneer life give a woman courage
and confidence, and | knew had
disabled one Of the men and had
FIVE bullets left for ths 0the: two"
The wounded man receivel the
bullet it, the left leg just at the knee,
and made a serious matter of it. He
I'll to tue grcunl ani cursed and
grOaned IN terrible way, and vowed
that the woman should be burned
alive at the stake to pay TO- hIs in
Jury. His companie1s were at drst
Inclined to ridicue him and to ad-
mire the pluck OF the waman; bat
when they realized that he would
probably lose his limb, and that the
trio had a peck of trouble on hand.
their anger became frightfnl. They
made a rush for the door, evidently
expecting TO easily lay hands Oh the
woman and drag her cut, but they
found it barred. When they turned
TO the windows they found them also
we'll secured. 1t became plain to
them that she meant determined re-
sistance, and they gave TIP their ef-
forts and retired to consult. Frn!h
what Mrs. Clark OverI card she was
convinced that the two men wanted
to help the wounded one off aud
leave at once, but he Obstinately re>
fused TO InOve an inch until he had
been reyenged on the woman. He
called their attention to the fact that
it was lonely ghbOrhood not
likely to be visited Gy any strangers
before night and that they should
batter in the door and secure their
victim. When they referred to hiH
wound as evidence OF her bravery,
he fcrcely shouted,
1t was an accident shot, she .
got my revolver, but she won't dare
fire it TO save her life. Get a log
and burst in that door."
The men hunted about until they
found a large limb which had bee Il
trimmed up, a. d they seized this
and made rush for the door. The
woman knew just what they were
preparing for, and sic softly un-
bolted one of tue blinds and swung
it back until she could see them.
One Of the pancs Of glass was gone,
and she rested the revolver in this
opening, took deliberate aim It the
man nearest her and when she pull
ed the trigger he fell down and eX-
pired with scarcely kick, having
been shot through the heart. Tie
other immediatt " "way, but
took circuit and came back TO the
wounded man. Then the curslng,
/ ravino and storming were renewed
and the wOunded man propped him
self up and emptied the contents OF
his Winchester and his revolver In
to the door and window blind. Mrs
Clark had warning, and she sat doWr
on the floor in corner. Some o
! tho hnllotS ell insiHe hnt She Wa: